ENG 3243.01
Literary Analysis and Criticism
Fall 2008
Course Name, Number, and Description: Catalog Description: “ENG 3243. Literary Analysis and Criticism. Analysis of fiction, poetry, and drama, using representative historical periods and contemporary texts. Focus on literary history, schools of criticism, literary terminology, genres, principles of analysis with intensive writing practice. Prerequisites: Nine hours of English. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours."
Location and Time: ASB 204. 1-2:20 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
This course satisfies a requirement on the degree plan for the Bachelor of Arts in English leading to 8-12 certification or for an upper-level English elective for the English major or for the English minor or in the General Studies degree plan (with a concentration in English). This course does NOT fulfill the requirements for English credit in the core curriculum. If you are taking this course for the Bachelor of Arts in English leading to 8-12 certification, you must make a "B" or better to receive credit. This course will be taught entirely in a traditional classroom setting and format. The final exam will be held on Monday, 8 December 2008 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in ASB 204.
Instructor Contact Information: Office Location, Phone, Office Hours, Email Address:
Russell Greer, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Office: CFO 803. E-mail:
rgreer@twu.edu.
Fax: (940) 898-2297. Office telephone: (940) 898-2346.
Website: www.russellgreer.com
I will host office hours by appointment in CFO 803 from 9-11 a.m., 12:30-1 p.m., and 2:30-4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays unless otherwise indicated. Typically, if I cannot hold those regularly scheduled office hours, I will make an announcement in class, post that information on my web site, and/or leave a note on my office door.
To contact me, you may also leave a voice mail for me at (940) 898-2346. I check for messages once a day and try to return calls promptly, often in the evening.
Required textbooks:
(1) Theory Into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism by Ann B. Dobie (345 pages. Wadsworth. 2nd edition. ISBN: 978-1-4282-1198-8);
(2) They Say/I Say by Gerald Graff (81 pages. W.W. Norton. ISBN: 0393924092);
(3) A Glossary of Literary Terms by M.H. Abrams and Geoffrey Harpham (393 pages. Wadsworth. 9th edition. ISBN: 978-1413033908);
(4) Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (475 pages. Bedford. ISBN: 978-0-312-19192-4).
Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Course Goal: Students will learn key facts about English, American, and World literary history, important literary terminology, and significant concepts in literary criticism, specifically formalism, psychological criticism, Marxist criticism, feminist criticism, and reader-response criticism. Student Learning Outcome: The student will demonstrate this knowledge in five quizzes and one comprehensive examination.
2. Course Goal: The student will learn how to write a literary analysis. Student Learning Outcome: The student will demonstrate this knowledge in graded three essays.
Academic Dishonesty Statement:
“Honesty in completing assignments is essential to the mission of the university and to the development of the personal integrity of the student. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment, failing the class, or being suspended or expelled. Suspected cases in this course may be reported to Student Life. The specific disciplinary process for academic dishonesty is found in the TWU Student Handbook. Tools to help you avoid plagiarism are available through the TWU Libraries’ “Quick Links” under “Research Help” (http://www.twu.edu/library/literacy/index.htm)”
This statement was authorized and mandated by the TWU Provost on November 10, 2005.
Plagiarism
The following definition of plagiarism appears in Joseph F. Trimmer’s A Guide to MLA Documentation (Sixth Edition), published by Houghton Mifflin Company (2004): “Plagiarism is theft. It is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit—or without giving any credit at all—to the writer of the original. Whether plagiarism is intentional or unintentional, it is a serious offense…You can avoid plagiarism by taking notes carefully, by formulating and developing your own ideas and by using quotes responsibly to support, rather than replace, your own work” (25). Note that I have used this quotation from a source and have given it full attribution. You should do the same with your sources. I strongly urge you to read the discussion of academic dishonesty that appears in Section Four of The Student Handbook 2008-2009 (pages 154-156). I intend to follow the TWU policy as outlined in this handbook exactly. It defines plagiarism in this way: “Plagiarism occurs when a student obtains portions or elements of someone else's work, including materials prepared by another person or agency, and presents those ideas or words as her or his own academic work. The intentional or unintentional use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement shall constitute plagiarism. Students are responsible for following guidelines of the appropriate course or discipline (ie; MLA, APA)" (154). In this course, we will use the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Penalties for first-time offenses include, at the instructor’s discretion, any of the following: (1) “Written reprimand”; (2) “Assignment of a 0 on an assignment"; (3) "Assignment of a lower grade on the test/paper/project in question, with an explanation from the instructor"; (4) “Assignment of a grade of F in the course" (155). A discussion of the more severe penalties for second offenses appears on pages 155-156. If you have any questions about whether or not a practice constitutes plagiarism, please contact me before you turn in the assignment.
Academic writing differs from other kinds of writing in that it is a conversation with other people who are writing and thinking about your topic. As we will learn while reading They Say/I Say, when you write an academic essay, you will agree with others, disagree with them, or do a little of both, but above all you will remain in a conversation. If you do not clearly identify their words and ideas from your own, you are not in a position to demonstrate your own critical thinking. Plagiarism, therefore, not only robs others other their proper credit, but it robs you of your ability to respond with integrity.
To protect the integrity of the course (in this age of the internet), our department asks students to submit their out-of-class essays to a plagiarism-checking website called www.turnitin.com. That website, in turn, will generate a report for me and to you. It will also archive your paper. If you would prefer not to have your work checked by this plagiarism website and your work archived in it, that is your right. However, instead of using turnitin.com, you would need to write a 250 word essay in my presence (during my office hours) explaining your objections. After accepting this handwritten essay from you, I would then check your future out-of-class work with other electronic tools that do not archive your work.
Turnitin.com has video tutorials on how to upload your papers, and it has tutorials on how to understand proper citation. I urge you to create an account as soon as possible by viewing the student training video found at http://www.turnitin.com/static/training.html) The video will tell you how to create a user profile and upload your paper (as you would with an attachment) and have it checked. It's a fairly easy and painless process, but you must create the user profile first (giving your email address, creating a password, etc.). You will do this only once.
After you create that user profile, you will need to know the class ID and the
class password for this class (ENG 3243). Here they are:
Class ID: 2360777
Enrollment Password: English
Let me also recommend that you watch the library's tutorial on plagiarism that you can find at http://www.twu.edu/library/tutorial/plagiarism/player.html
Above all, remember that if you have any questions as to whether or not you have used another person's work and not given proper credit, please see me before you submit the work.
Disability Support Policy Statement: "If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the office of Disability Support Services (CFO 106, 940-898-3835, dss@twu.edu) in order to obtain the required official notification of your accommodation needs. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss approved accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate"
[This statement provided by the office of Disability Support Services].
Grading policy, major course assignments and examinations, and attendance policy:
Class Attendance: The Texas Woman's University Handbook 2008-2009 states the following about attendance: "Consistent and attentive attendance is vital to academic success, and is expected of all students. Grades are determined by academic performance, and instructors may give students written notice that attendance is related to specific classroom activities is required and will constitute a specific percentage of a students' grades.
Instructors are strongly encouraged to keep a record of student attendance. They should note absences due to documented student illness, serious illness or death in the students' immediate family, official school activity, state-recognized religious holiday, or other verified absences deemed appropriate by the instructor. Students must consult with instructors regarding the completion of make-up work.
Absences are verified through the Office of Student Life. Absences do not exempt students from academic requirements. Excessive absences, even if documented, may result in a student failing the course. An incomplete may be granted if the student has passing grades in 2/3 of assigned work, but only if the instructor determines that extenuating circumstances prevent the student from being able to complete all course work by the end of the semester or term" (143-144).
For each unexcused absence, I will deduct three points from your final grade (since each class meeting represents about three percent of the class time). Excused absences, as defined by TWU, must be documented through Student Life. If you miss more than fifty percent of any particular class period, you will be counted absent. When I return each test, I will indicate the number of absences I have recorded for you to date.
Grading policy, major course assignments, and examinations
Quizzes 1-5 (25%. 5% per quiz)
Essay #1 (Poetry or Prose. 3-5 pages) 10%
Essay #2 (Poetry or Prose. 5-7 pages) 15%
Essay #3 (Romeo and Juliet. 7-10 pages) 20%
Final Examination (30%)
Each essay should be typed and double-spaced. Please use the the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Here is a website with information about the MLA format: MLA format. Your purpose in writing these essays is to communicate a critical perspective about how to read or understand one or more works of literature. You will turn in a printed copy of your essay to me on the due date indicated on the syllabus and upload your essay to www.turnin.com about the same time.
Creating a strong literary argument is the central focus of each essay. Do not merely summarize or paraphrase the narrative. Every essay should have a strong thesis, strong topic sentences, good grammar, and good evidence. When I report your essay grades to you, I will try to communicate as much specific information as possible by breaking down the grade into five areas, each weighted differently. Fifty percent of your essay grade will come from my assessment of the essay's content and organization: Was there strong content? Were the ideas presented logically and as requested by the assignment? Does the paper contain a clear introduction and summary statement? For style, I will look specifically at sentence structures and transitions. For diction, I will examine your spelling and word choice. For mechanics and grammar, I will focus on whether or not you are using the MLA conventions correctly and whether or not you are making any serious grammatical errors. In particular, I will look for fragments, comma splices, agreement errors (both pronoun and subject/predicate), apostrophe errors, and fused sentences. Four of these errors in any combination in any essay or final examination will merit a “20” for the essay. "1" is the lowest mark for one of these areas; "5" is the highest. I will use this grading scale:
Content (1-5)
Organization
(1-5) x 5 = _____________
Style (1-5)
Diction (1-5) x
3 = ___________
Mechanics and
Grammar (1-5) x 4 = _______________
Total:__________________
Best Practices
1. Always assume that your reader has read the text you are analyzing.
2. Typically, you write about literature in the present tense;
3. Avoid the major editing errors: (1) subject/verb agreement errors; (2) pronoun agreement errors; (3) apostrophe errors; (4) comma splices; (5) fused sentences; and (6) sentence fragments;
4. Remember that essential appositives do not use commas when introducing a literary work: "Shakespeare's play Hamlet is one of his longest";
5. Don't replicate the punctuation you quote with the exception of question marks and exclamation marks.
6. In your "Works Cited," cite the work you are analyzing, even if it appears in an anthology (i.e. don't just quote the anthology alone).
7. Don't use the title of the work of literature that you are analyzing as the title of your own paper. Your title prepares the reader for your argument, so you should hint at your thesis and mention the work or works that you are going to consider, if possible. Don't be vague.
Letters of Recommendation
As Associate Professor of English, I am often asked to write letters of recommendation for my students. I do not mind writing these letters. I consider it a professional duty, but please note that I will only write letters of recommendation for students who have received an "A" in at least one of my classes, and I always require that the request be accompanied by a copy of a paper written for one of my classes (it can be as heavily revised as you wish). When you make the request, be sure to note my deadline for writing the letter and to whom I should send it.
Tentative calendar of classes, assignments. The Fall 2008 academic calendar can be found here:
Please note that this daily syllabus is for planning purposes only and is subject to change.
August
25 Introduction.Dobie: Chapter 1 ("The Relationship of Reading and Writing"). Abrams: "criticism" (61-64) "canon of literature" (pgs. 38-41)
27 Dobie: Chapter 2 ("Familiar Approaches"). "Ancient Greece and the Formation of the Western Mind." Timeline. Abrams: "theories and movements in recent criticism" (pg. 368) and "interpretation and hermeneutics" (pgs. 158-162) and "interpretation, typological and allegorical" (pgs. 162-164). Graff: "Preface" and "Introduction" (pgs. ix-14). Discussion of Essay #1.
September
1 Labor Day holiday. University closed-no classes
3 Dobie: Chapter 3 ("Formalism"). Literary History (World Literature): "The Roman Empire." Timeline. Abrams: "formalism" (126-129), "New Criticism" (216-218) and "meter" (pgs. 194-199). Graff: "They Say" (pgs. 17-27).
8 Dobie: Chapter 3 ("Formalism"). Literary History (World Literature): "From the Roman Empire to Christian Europe." Timeline. Abrams: "tension" (pg. 363), "distance and involvement" (83-84), "dramatic monologue" (85-86), and "intentional fallacy" (157). Graff: "'Her Point Is': The Art of Summarizing" (pgs. 28-38).
10 Dobie: Chapter 4 ("Psychological Criticism"). Literary History (World Literature): "The Formation of a Western Literature." Timeline. Abrams: "symbol" (pgs. 358-361), "psychological and psychoanalytic criticism" (pgs. 289-295), and "archetypal criticism" (pgs. 15-17). Graff: "As He Himself Puts It": The Art of Quoting" (pgs. 39-47). Quiz #1
15 Dobie: Chapter 4 ("Psychological Criticism"). Literary History (World Literature): "The Renaissance in Europe." Timeline. Abrams: "Renaissance" (pgs. 306-310), "figurative language" (118-122) and "humanism" (144-148). Graff: "Yes/No/Okay, But": Three Ways to Respond" (pgs. 51-63).
17 Dobie: Chapter 4 ("Psychological Criticism"). Literary History (World Literature): "The Enlightenment in Europe." Timeline. Abrams: "stanza" (pgs. 340-344), "Enlightenment" (pgs. 96-97), and "Marxist criticism" (181-187). Graff: "'And Yet': Distinguishing What You Say from What They Say" (pgs. 64-73).
22 Dobie: Chapter 4 ("Psychological Criticism"). Literary History (World Literature): "Revolution and Romanticism in Europe and America." Timeline. Abrams: "Symbolist Movement" (pg. 361) and "imagery" (pgs. 150-152) and "plot" (pgs. 265-268). Graff: "'Skeptics May Object': Planting a Naysayer in Your Text" (pgs. 74-87).
24 Dobie: Chapter 4 ("Psychological Criticism"). Dobie: Chapter 6 ("Feminist Criticism"). Abrams: "realism and naturalism" (pgs. 302-305) and "feminist criticism" (pgs. 110-116). Graff: "'So What? Who Cares?': Saying Why It Matters" (pgs. 88-97).
29 Dobie: Chapter 4 ("Psychological Criticism"). Abrams: "psychological and psychoanalytic criticism" (pgs. 289-295). Graff: "'As a Result': Connecting the Parts" (pgs. 101-114).
October
1 Quiz #2. Dobie: Chapter 5 ("Marxist Criticism"). Literary History (World Literature): "Realism, Naturalism, and Symbolism in Europe." Timeline. Abrams: "Marxist criticism" (181-187). Graff: "'Ain't So/Is Not": Academic Writing Doesn't Mean Setting Aside Your Own Voice" (115-122).
6 Essay #1 Due. Information on MLA format. Dobie: Chapter 5 ("Marxist Criticism"). Literary History (World Literature): "The Twentieth Century: European Modernism." Timeline. Abrams: "periods of English literature" (pgs. 250-257). Graff: "'In Other Words': The Art of Metacommentary" (pgs. 123-132).
8 Dobie: Chapter 5 ("Marxist Criticism"). Literary History (World Literature): "The Twentieth Century: Decolonization." Timeline. Abrams: "sonnet" (336-337) and "meter" (pgs. 194-199).
13 Dobie: Chapter 5 ("Marxist Criticism"). Literary History (English Literature): Literary History (English Literature): "The Middle Ages.". Timeline. Abrams: "soliloquy" (pgs. 335-337).
15 ACT CAAP Testing
20 Quiz #3. Dobie: New Historicism (pages 175-194). Note that this material will not appear on a test except as an extra credit opportunity question on Quiz #4. Literary History (English Literature): "The Sixteenth Century". Timeline. Abrams: "metaphysical poets" (192-193).
Note that you can earn three points of extra credit on your final grade for attending this evening lecture at Austin College:
World-renowned Shakespearean and English literature scholar Stephen Greenblatt will visit Austin College October 20 to present a lecture on Shakespeare and Cervantes, “The Strange Case of Cardenio.” The lecture will be held at 7 p.m. in Hoxie Thompson Auditorium of Sherman Hall. A reception and book signing will follow.
“Stephen Greenblatt’s visit to Austin College is a major event for us,” said Carol Daeley, professor of English and chair of the English Department. “He is a groundbreaking figure in literary studies who has recently launched two truly unique projects born out of his interest in ‘what happens when things cross borders.’ His Harvard course on global exchange along ocean routes in the 17th century has, like much of his work, profound relevance to today’s world. His play, Cardenio, co-written with Charles Mee and inspired by Shakespeare and Cervantes, has been adapted for performance in Japan and India. Who better to bring here as the faculty begins its ‘Global Learning for Cultural Awareness’ Quality Enhancement Plan?”
Greenblatt is the John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University, one of 19 Harvard University Professors, the school’s highest professorial distinction. Before joining the Harvard faculty in 1997, Greenblatt was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught for 28 years. He has been a visiting professor and lecturer at universities around the world, including the universities of Oxford, London, Kyoto, Bologna, Florence, Berlin, and Peking. He is the author of dozens of scholarly articles and of 10 books, including Hamlet in Purgatory. He also has served as editor of 10 major volumes, including the seventh edition of The Norton Anthology of English Literature. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the recipient of many honors and awards.
For questions, call Austin College at (903) 813-2361. The lecture will be in Sherman Hall. Here's a map of Austin College in Sherman, Texas:
http://www.austincollege.edu/Info.asp?818
22 Dobie: Chapter 6 ("Feminist Criticism"). Literary History (English Literature): "The Early Seventeenth Century". Timeline. Abrams: "conceit" (pgs. 52-54).
27 Dobie: Chapter 6 ("Feminist Criticism"). Literary History (English Literature): "Restoration and the 18th Century". Timeline. Abrams: "satire" (pgs. 320-323). "Diving into the Wreck" by Adrienne Rich.
29 Dobie: Chapter 6 ("Feminist Criticism"). Literary History (English Literature): "Romantic Period." Timeline. Abrams: "sublime" (pgs. 354-357).
November
3 Quiz #4. Writing Workshop. Literary History (English Literature): "Victorian Period". Abrams: "Victorian and Victorianism" (pgs. 379-382).
5 Essay #2 Due. Information on MLA format. . Dobie: Chapter 7 ("Reader-Response Criticism"). Literary History (English Literature): "The Twentieth Century". Abrams: "reader-response criticisim" (pgs. 299-302).
10 Dobie: Chapter 7 ("Reader-Response Criticism"). Literary History (American Literature): "Beginning to 1700" . Abrams: "Transcendentalism in America" (pgs. 375-377). Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Act I.
12 Dobie: Chapter 7 ("Reader-Response Criticism"). Literary History (American Literature): "1700-1820". Abrams: ""periods of American literature" (pgs. 245-250). Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Act II.
17 Dobie: Chapter 7 ("Reader-Response Criticism"). Abrams: "rhetoric" (311-312") and "rhetorical criticism" (312-313). Literary History (American Literature): "1820-1865". Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Act III.
19 Dobie: Chapter 7 ("Reader-Response Criticism"). Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Literary History (American Literature):"1865-1914" and "Since 1945" Abrams: "Beat writers" (pgs. 24-25). Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Act IV.
24 Quiz #5. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare: Act V. Abrams: "comedy" (pgs. 48-51).
26. No class. TWU closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
December
1 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Abrams: "comic relief" (pg. 52).
3 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Abrams: "tragedy" (pgs. 370-374. Essay #3 Due (your essays will be graded with comments are returned at the final examination). Information on MLA format.
Final Examination: Monday, 8 December 2008 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in ASB 204.
Last updated 21 November 2008
List of changes to this syllabus after 25 August 2008:
2 September 2008: Link added to Essay #1 (Poetry or Prose. 3-5 pages) 10%.
29 September 2008: Major revision. Added sometime timelines. Symplified readings from Abrams.
30 September 2008: Information on MLA format added via website link.
1 October 2008: Goals revised to the following: Students will learn key facts about English, American, and World literary history, important literary terminology, and significant concepts in literary criticism, specifically formalism, psychological criticism, Marxist criticism, feminist criticism, and reader-response criticism.
12 October 2008: Extra credit opportunity and information added for 20 October.
14 October 2008: "Best Practices" section added.
19 October 2008: Information added about extra credit opportunity attending a lecture at Austin College on 20 October.
20 October 2008: Added "New Historicism" reading for 20 Oct.
29 October 2008: Added this statement to the "Best Practices" section: "Your title prepares the reader for your argument, so you should hint at your thesis and mention the work or works that you are going to consider, if possible. Don't be vague."
30 October 2008: Moved the due date for Essay #2 to November 5 and Quiz #4 to November 3.
5 November 2008: Adjusted the dates for reading Romeo and Juliet, beginning now on 10 November with Act I and reading an act per class until we complete it.
10 November 2008: I added this section called "Letters of Recommendation": "As Associate Professor of English, I am often asked to write letters of recommendation for my students. I do not mind writing these letters. I consider it a professional duty, but please note that I will only write letters of recommendation for students who have received an "A" in at least one of my classes, and I always require that the request be accompanied by a copy of a paper written for one of my classes (it can be as heavily revised as you wish). When you make the request, be sure to note my deadline for writing the letter and to whom I should send it."
20 November 2008: Essay #3 due date changed to 3 December.